Did my team make it to the finals?

Where will the 2018 Winter NBC Sports Washington Trivia Challenge Finals be held?

When will the 2018 Winter NBC Sports Washington Trivia Challenge Finals be held?

The finals will take place on Saturday, March 31st at 12:30pm. Doors will open at 12pm.

Trivia will begin promptly at 12:30pm, so tell your team to be on time.

What if I'm unable to attend the finals?

We know there are other major events the weekend of the finals and we apologize for any scheduling conflicts. However, after much research and discussion, we determined that this was the best date and time option to ensure a high quality event that is free to attend.

Update: We have received numerous emails and social media posts about changing the date of the finals, specifically due to religious holidays. Here is some additional information so that our players will hopefully understand the difficulty of scheduling this particular finals event.

Due to other events in March (e.g. March Madness, Cherry Blossom Festival, March for Our Lives, etc), there are simply no other dates available that would allow us to keep this event free. We are stuck between hosting the event in the middle of a massive protest, not having a venue available due to March Madness, and having to charge players to attend the finals. (It has always been our first and foremost priority to keep District Trivia events free to our players.) As a result of these other events in March, we had to reschedule from the weekend of March 24th (our original date) due to the potential massive gridlock that will occur in D.C. with the protests. Because of this last minute conflict, our only options became Saturday, March 31st or Sunday, April 1st. We decided that Saturday afternoon was the best of the remaining choices as this would give players the most amount of time to attend the finals.

Again, we apologize for this inconvenience and recognize that some players won't be able to attend. We have always worked to find finals dates that will include as many players as possible. We are very disappointed that we were not able to accommodate all of our players for this finals event as we love seeing all of you.

We are actively working on scheduling the Summer 2018 finals further in advance to (hopefully) prevent these scheduling conflicts... but we will never truly be able to predict when D.C. will become the center of political protests.

What are the prizes for the finals?

We're paying out the top 4 places. The grand prize is $5000! 2nd will receive $1000, 3rd $400, and 4th $100. If you place 5th, Lindsey will award your team high-fives.

How long do finals last?

We strive to keep all of our trivia events approximately 2 hours long. Due to the high volume of teams, question difficulty (see below), and the occasional debate about birds, the duration of finals is increased. We always try run the smoothest event possible within a reasonable (and still fun!) length, so we aim to be around 2.5 hours, but realistically it will be about 3.

How do semi-finals work?

The semi-finals take place at your regular weekly venue. Show up and play trivia. The semi-finalist team with the highest score of all the semi-finalists will advance to the finals - that means you don't have to 'win' the entire venue, just score higher than the other semi-finalists. Once the winner is determined, the host will collect contact information from a team representative. BE SURE THIS PERSON IS RESPONSIVE - this is how we'll be communicating information and call to RSVP.

We won our semi-final, so our team has qualified, what happens now?

Your team representative (whichever email was collected by the host on the night of the semi-finals) is contacted the week after semi-finals have been concluded. Your team rep should reach out to the entire team for a head count so they can RSVP accurately. The RSVP email will come to the team representative via SurveyMonkey.

I'm the team rep and my team qualified, but I did not receive the RSVP email.

Email us at tournament at district-trivia dot com and we will diagnosis the issue and resend the link.

How important is it to accurately RSVP?

EXTREMELY. Every seat and space will be utilized at the venue. If your count is off, you're not only hurting your teammates, but other teams as well. Please help us ensure a smooth event for all. Although unlikely, if the venue reaches capacity, no further players will be permitted to enter. Please also let us know if one of your teammates has a special need (such as accessible seating) so we can accommodate accordingly.

What does it take to RSVP? What happens if my team doesn't do this?

All qualified teams who want to play in the finals are required to RSVP accurately in advance. Respond to the SurveyMonkey by Friday, March 23rd at noon. The link will take approximately 1 minute to complete. Before filling out the RSVP, know the number of players who will attend, which venue you qualified at (choose one if your team qualified at multiple), and read the entirety of this Frequently Asked Question page. Should you have questions about the process or major updates to attendance numbers after the RSVP deadline, please email us at tournament at district trivia dot com. If your team does not RSVP, we will not be able to guarantee a writing surface, seats, or entry.

Can my team represent multiple venues?

As with previous seasons, teams can only represent one venue at the finals.

Can we change our team name?

No. You must use the same team name you qualified with. When you RSVP, be sure to put the correct spelling of your team name in the text box.

How does seating work?

Seating will be determined by team size and how that fits into the table layout, then teams that had higher scores over the course of the season will be closer to main stage. All qualified teams will have a reserved table. An individual seat per person is not guaranteed - the smaller the team size, the more likely you will have a seat per person. Most tables will be 6-8 tops and we will combine as we are able.

Will trivia be on both floors?

Yes, every square foot of Penn Social will be used. Downstairs, upstairs and even the seasonal bar. Sound will be throughout the entire venue. We'll also have hosts stationed throughout so that turning in rounds and receiving bonus rounds will be easy. All teams will be eligible for raffle prizes, regardless of location or score.

Are venues that start in March eligible for the finals?

No, all venues that begin trivia after March 4th (the official end of the Winter 2018 Trivia Season) will not qualify a team for the finals. The Summer 2018 tournament starts on Monday, April 2nd.

I want to play in the finals and I have not qualified, can I still play?

Absolutely! All are welcome at District Trivia events, however only the teams that qualified are eligible for prizes. Space is extremely limited however and entrance is not guaranteed.

Will there be any hints?

Big prizes mean bigger stakes. That means you and your team will rely solely on that random knowledge you've manage to collect. The We Don't Know Either podcast and the Hint of the Week will help you on a regular night of trivia at your venue, but not during the finals.

The questions were soooo hard last time, should I bother trying?

You're right. We swayed a little too much on the "stump them" scale last time around. We heard your feedback and acted accordingly - the questions this time will be SLIGHTLY more challenging than a regular night of trivia, so it's any team's game - we're confident you'll leave feeling like you know lots of things.

Will the NBC Sports Washington Finals going to be all sports questions?

No, absolutely not. The trivia content is in the same ratio as a normal night, but a bit more challenging.

What is the food and drink situation at the finals?

Penn Social will have a full service kitchen and bar available to enjoy during the finals, including some brunch themed items. The waitstaff will be running around like a blur taking orders and making sure you get what you need. We recommend bringing cash and small bills for a speedier checkout. Please remember to tip well. We'd like to be able to keep this event free to attend, so we encourage all of our players to eat, drink, and be merry!

What if someone on my team isn't 21 or over?

Penn Social is a strictly 21+ establishment - no exceptions. Any one under 21 will not be permitted to enter.

Is there a limit on the size of the team I can bring?

We have a strict 35 person limit. This is not a joke. Do not go over. Remember - the higher the team total, the less prize money per player so there is strategy in determining the amount of players on your team. Larger teams will not have seating for their entire team. The venue will be packed and seats cannot be guaranteed for every member of your team. The larger the team, the less likely we will be able to accommodate chairs for players.

A teammate will be late - can they still play?

Yes, if we are not at capacity, team members can still participate if they arrive late to the venue. However, a host will escort them to the team's table and they will have to put their phone in the cage immediately.

How are you going to prevent cheating?

We’re going to trust in the goodness of people. Just kidding, hosts will be roaming and monitoring the floor.ABSOLUTELY NO PHONE USAGE WILL BE ALLOWED DURING TRIVIA. Your hand-held devices will be on lock down and if you are seen with a phone without previous permission, your team will be disqualified. Each team should bring some form of cage to house your cell phones. We'll be awarding bonus points to the best cell phone cages - 5 points for 1st, 3 points for 2nd, and 1 point for 3rd place, so get creative! All teams should bring a cage.

Why do some teams have points before the event even starts?

The grinders among you have put in the time and spent 5 months clawing your way to the top. Because of your dedication, the teams that qualified via the monthly semi-finals route will receive 10 bonus points at the finals. Teams that do not receive the bonus points are from former venues or Free Passes.

Will trivia still be happening during the "off-season"?

Of course! Your weekly venue will still have trivia. Gift cards will be awarded to the top teams, but points do not qualify for Summer 2018 until Monday, April 2nd.

What does my team need to bring?

Bring a cell phone cage for your team. Phones will be deposited here during rounds to prevent cheating. The top 3 cages (as voted on by the District Trivia hosts) earn bonus points! Lastly, bring a good attitude. This event is a celebration of trivia! Have fun, enjoy the moment, and get ready to have a lot of new knowledge to drop on the office Monday morning.

What if I NEED my phone?

Doctor on call? Wife about to have a baby? Need to check a health monitor? Talk to staff individually and we will work something out that allows you access and prevents the perception of cheating.

What's the deal with this date/venue/etc?

We work hard to ensure that this event is free to attend. Based on event size and available dates, Saturday the 31st at Penn Social was the best option possible. Stay tuned for when Summer 2018 will be held - plans are already in the works!

When does the Summer 2018 season start?

The finals are taking place at the tail end of the "off-season". Thus, the next season qualifying will begin on Monday, April 2nd. We'll update the when is trivia season page as soon as possible. Reminder that months can vary from 4-5 weeks. A trivia week (and overall month) will always start on a Monday and end on a Sunday.

But I still have a question?

Click the envelope at the top left corner. Select "tournament" from the dropdown options. Someone from the staff will respond as quickly as possible. Please note you'll have to solve a simple math problem (like 5+7) to prove you're not a robot.

About District Trivia

District Trivia is your neighborhood pub trivia done right.

The best hosts, the best format and the best prizes combine to give the people of the Washington, DC Metro area the best trivia experience anywhere in the city.

Take note: we thrive on creating organized chaos and our main goal is to entertain the crowd. We know that some people take trivia very seriously, we are not those people.